Day One Results
 
CANTON, N.Y. - Strong performances to bookend day one of the 2024 Liberty League Indoor Track & Field Championships led the Union College men's track and field team to 15 points on the opening day of competition, good for sixth.
 
Sophomore Mason Lang got the Championships started in a big way for the program, picking up a top-five finish and the first four points of the two-day meet in the first event final of the weekend. Lang's 13.69 meter toss on his fourth attempt in the shot put was good enough for a fifth-place finish, and came just shy of the 13.91 meter personal-best throw he registered at the Middlebury Winter Classic a month ago.
 
On the opposite end of the day, the distance medley relay team of senior Ben Trantanella, sophomore Aidan Savitt, sophomore James Toleos, and senior Charlie Alekson picked up eight points in the final event of the day. The unit's time of 10:26.22 was good enough for second in the event and clinched a spot for the squad in the AARTFC Regionals.

Right in the middle of the day, Alekson's performance in the mile kicked off a series of three solid events for the Garnet Chargers. The Stowe, Vermont native finished sixth in the event, good for three points, with his 4:18.70 time just shy of his personal-best he set at the Fastrack National Invite two weeks ago. 
 
The 60-meter dash prelims turned out to be the men's strongest event of the day. Junior Sam Ahern and first-year Nate Okwaning finished in second and third, respectively, with Ahern tying his program-record with a 6.98 second time and Okwaning smashing his previous personal-best with a 7.02 clocking. Okwaning also punched his ticket to AARTFC Regionals, clinching his spot alongside Ahern who solidified his position at the Utica Winter Opener in January. First-Year Aaron Binion also posted a personal-best with his 7.18 time and tenth-place finish.
 
Immediately before the 60-meter dash prelims, sophomore Jason Bois punched his ticket to the 60-meter hurdle event final Saturday with his performance in the event prelims. Bois finished in third overall with a 8.73 second time after winning his heat. Juniors Liam Beck and Chris Brandreth also ran strong, coming just short of posting personal-best times.

First-Year Jackson Klehr also set a personal-best Friday, with his 52.70 timing in the 400 setting a new personal-best in the event for the rookie.
 
Union will look to improve on their sixth-place standing when Saturday's events begin for the Garnet Chargers at 11:30 a.m., when senior Ryan Hilliard and Binion take part in the triple jump and Lang and sophomore Nick Entner challenge in the weight throw.